FINANCING
FINANCING EXPERTISE MATCHED TO YOUR GOALS.
The structure you choose affects your tax position, cash flow, and cost of energy for decades. GEC evaluates your project and recommends the path that fits your balance sheet.
COMPARE YOUR OPTIONS
EVERY FACILITY HAS A RIGHT FIT.
The structure you choose affects your tax position, cash flow, and cost of energy for decades. GEC evaluates your project and recommends the path that fits your balance sheet with over 40 years of expertise.
CASH PURCHASE
You pay upfront. You own the system outright. All available tax benefits flow directly to you — investment tax credits, accelerated depreciation, and renewable energy credits. No ongoing payments, no third-party involvement, no shared economics.
ADVANTAGES
Full ITC + MACRS depreciation + RECs
Lowest total cost of energy over system lifetime
No financing costs or monthly payment
Complete ownership and control of the asset
Strongest long-term return on investment
CONSIDERATIONS
— Requires available capital upfront
— Requires sufficient tax liability to use credits
— Best for long-term facility ownership
Organizations with available capital and sufficient tax liability seeking maximum long-term ROI.
LOAN/ FINANCED OWNERSHIP
You own the system and spread the capital over time. The same tax benefits as cash — investment tax credits, depreciation, and renewable energy credits — all flow to you as the owner. When energy savings exceed loan payments, the system can be cash-flow positive from year one.
ADVANTAGES
Full ownership with little to no capital upfront
Full ITC + MACRS depreciation + RECs
Build equity in a productive asset
Preserve working capital for other priorities
Can be cash-flow positive from year one
CONSIDERATIONS
— Requires creditworthiness
— Monthly loan payments
— Responsible for maintenance
Organizations that want full ownership and tax benefits without deploying capital upfront.
OPERATING LEASE
Fixed monthly payments. No upfront capital. The provider owns and maintains the system — you use the power and they handle the asset. Budget predictability is the primary advantage, with potential off-balance-sheet treatment depending on structure.
ADVANTAGES
No upfront capital required
Fixed, predictable monthly payments
Provider handles maintenance and operations
Potential off-balance-sheet treatment
Flexible end-of-term options
CONSIDERATIONS
— Provider owns the system
— Tax benefits vary by structure
— Long-term contract commitment
Organizations prioritizing budget predictability and operational simplicity.
POWER PURCHASE AGREEMENT (PPA)
A third-party provider finances, installs, owns, and operates the system on your property. You purchase the electricity at a contracted rate — typically below retail utility prices. For tax-exempt organizations, a PPA is often the only structure that delivers the value of federal incentives.
ADVANTAGES
$0 upfront investment
Immediate energy cost savings
No maintenance responsibility
Fixed energy rate for 15-25 years
Ideal for tax-exempt entities
CONSIDERATIONS
— Third party owns the system
— Tax benefits passed through as lower rates
— Long-term contract commitment
Tax-exempt entities or organizations seeking immediate savings with zero capital outlay.
WHY GEC
FINANCING STARTS WITH ENGINEERING
RIGHT-SIZED SYSTEMS
We model your load profile and size the system to your facility, not to a formula.
INCENTIVE EXPERTISE
Federal credits, depreciation, state programs, utility rebates. We identify what's available and handle the applications.
FINANCING-AGNOSTIC ADVICE
We recommend the structure that fits your situation — not the one that's easiest for us.
ONE POINT OF ACCOUNTABILITY
From site assessment through commissioning, one team owns the outcome.
COMMON QUESTIONS
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Yes. Federal (ITC, MACRS), state (IL Shines), and utility (ComEd) incentives stack on standard commercial projects. What is harder to change once contracts are signed is the financing structure itself (cash vs loan vs PPA). GEC models multiple structures upfront so you can compare side by side before committing.
Direct Pay (elective payment under IRC §6417) also allows tax-exempt entities — including municipalities, schools, and qualifying nonprofits — to receive ITC value as a cash refund rather than a credit against tax liability. GEC can evaluate which path applies.
All four structures — cash, loan, lease, and PPA — apply to battery storage, solar-plus-storage, and standalone storage projects. Battery storage qualifies for the federal ITC independently of solar. GEC evaluates the full incentive stack for every storage project.
GEC is the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractor. We design and build the system. The financing — whether a PPA, lease, or loan — is arranged through a third-party financing partner. GEC does not take an ownership stake in the system or share in ongoing revenue.